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Welcome from Texas A&M University - Commerce On behalf of Texas A&M University - Commerce we would like to welcome you to the 5th Annual TRACS Summit. Because of dedicated partners from around the great state of Texas as well as guests from California, DC, Georgia and Washington, we have some outstanding programs for you to enjoy! Thanks to everyone that volunteered to engage us with your knowledge and experience in transforming sustainability into our everyday lives that will make a difference for our future. This year the Summit information is online only. This allows us to be sustainable with registration fees as well as reducing what is recycled. It is very simple to download and if needed, print off. We hope you understand and agree with the sustainable initiative. Any changes that may occur at the Summit will be posted directly to the website. I would like to give a special thanks to our generous sponsors; because of you we can provide a nice environment, good entertainment and food while keeping our registration costs to a minimum. Texas &M University-Commerce Johnson Controls The University of Texas at Austin Texas A&M University The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Republic Services patcraft Sodexo max-R Staples SMITH GROUP JJR Thanks to those that volunteered to moderate sessions; this is a small but very important task and your time is appreciated. I look forward meeting you and wish you safe travels. Kathy McGrath Associate Director – Hall Operations Residential Living and Learning Texas A&M University – Commerce
Reduce Reuse Recycle Please assist us in reducing the future cost of the TRACS Summit by recycling and reusing the TRACS lanyards and name badges for next year. A recycling box will be located at the main conference door. Thanks!
TRACS Executive Committee
Shaping the Future of Sustainability in Texas Higher Education
The Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) is pleased to announce the 2015-2017 Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is comprised of six elected members, who will focus on creating the TRACS governance structure and organizational bylaws as well as refining the mission and vision of TRACS.
Brandon Morton, Sustainability Coordinator, North Lake College Brandon is the Sustainability Coordinator for North Lake College (NLC), part of the Dallas County Community College District. He works in the Office of the Vice President for Business Services, supporting sustainability programs in campus operations, community partnerships, and public education. Brandon is also an Adjunct Professor of Biology, and is an awarded Fellow of the Global Citizenship Alliance based in Salzburg, Austria. Brandon serves in community roles as President of Sustainability Management Association, as a member on the North Central Texas Council of Governments Resource Conservation Council, and a board member of the Sierra Club of Texas foundation. Brandon holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from University of North Texas, and professional certifications in Sustainability Management, Basic Trail-Building, Water Quality Assessment, and Zero Waste. He is currently enrolled in graduate studies for Sustainable Community Development at Stephen F. Austin State University, and has published works in environmental history and biocultural studies.
Marianella Franklin, Director of Sustainability, The University of Rio Grande Valley
Marianella holds a BA in Architecture from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, and a Certificate in Sustainability Leadership from The University of Vermont. Marianella is the founding Director and Chief Sustainability Officer at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, leading the institutions global sustainability efforts with 14 years in higher education. She is responsible for and focused on improving sustainable development and organizational effectiveness in education, research, operations and global engagement. Since she established the Office for Sustainability in 2009, Marianella has accelerated institutional progress in academics, educating the next generation of professional leadership, driving interdisciplinary sustainability research, and creating outreach opportunities with businesses, non-profit organizations, policy makers and the community. She is an active participant in the local community, working to foster collaborative efforts among academics, and public, private partnerships to further the development and execution of strategies and plans that drive sustainability improvements within the institutional strategic plan. Marianella’s leadership has helped launch various programs and centers that include: the UTRGV - International Center for Sustainability Across Curriculum; The South Texas Industrial Assessment Center; Sustainability Fellows, Scholars and Internship programs and assisted in developing new interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs in Energy, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. As an industry advocate Marianella has shared her knowledge lecturing at numerous conferences and seminar based programs. Marianella is a member
of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), International Women’s Board (IWB), American Institute of Architects (AIA), USGBC and a LEED accredited professional.
Alyssa Halle-Schramm, Sustainability Program Coordinator, Austin Community College District
Alyssa holds a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and master’s degrees in Public Administration and Urban & Regional Planning from Virginia Tech and is the Sustainability Coordinator for the Austin Community College District (ACC). She joined the ACC team in January 2017 and is responsible for initiatives ranging from outreach and engagement to recycling and waste management. Prior to ACC, Alyssa worked at The University of Texas at Austin in their sustainability office where she was primarily responsible for advising the office’s affiliated student organization, the Campus Environmental Center. She also played a key role in the university’s sustainability planning efforts. Additionally, Alyssa worked with Virginia Tech’s energy and sustainability office and focused on student initiatives, sustainability planning, and measuring the campus' sustainability progress. She also has professional experience in urban planning and serves on the City of Bastrop's Zoning and Adjustment Board.
Richard Johnson, Director, Administrative Center for Sustainability and Energy Management, Rice University; TRACS Executive Committee Co-Chair
Richard Johnson earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Rice University and a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia. He currently serves as the Director of the Administrative Center for Sustainability and Energy Management for Rice University, where he leads Rice’s sustainability program and oversees a team of energy managers and analysts. Richard holds appointments as a Professor in the Practice of Environmental Studies in Sociology and as an Adjunct Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has taught approximately twenty classes at Rice. He is also the former President of the Board of the Houston Farmers' Market, now the Rice University Farmers Market. Richard is a husband, father, foodie, traveler, and has served as a volunteer public radio deejay for over 25 years.
Ben Kalscheur, Sustainability Assistant Manager, Texas A&M University
Ben has served in the Texas A&M Office of Sustainability since 2010. He started as a Graduate Assistant and became the Sustainability Assistant Manager in 2013 upon completion of his Masters in Water Management & Hydrological Science. Hailing from Wisconsin, Ben earned a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In the Office of Sustainability his core job function is running an Internship Program devoted to creating a culture of sustainability through action and outreach. Ben is a strong advocate for the importance of incorporating social justice into sustainability and strives to build diverse, dynamic teams that are built on the foundations of inclusion, respect, and passion.
Kelly Wellman, Sustainability Director, Texas A&M University; TRACS Executive Committee Co-Chair
Kelly Wellman’s interest in the environment began during college when she interned in the sanitation operations of a local municipality. That job nurtured her fascination with the numerous human and environmental relationships that our society experiences on a daily basis. Kelly graduated from Texas A&M University in 1995 with a BS in Geography and emphasis on Environmental Studies. In 2006 she earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Prior to joining the staff at Texas A&M University, Kelly served as the Environmental Director for a municipality of 68,000 where she spent 12 years in the fields of Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste & Recycling, and Environmental Compliance. In March 2008, Kelly accepted the position as Texas A&M University’s first Sustainability Officer. In that role, Kelly has been charged with identifying key sustainability initiatives, working with students, faculty, and staff to develop a comprehensive program, advising the Aggie Green Fund, and implementing sustainability goals for the University.
Lori De La Cruz, Sustainability Coordinator, Mountain View College
Lori De La Cruz, ABC, has specialized in sustainability and solid waste reduction education, project planning & implementation for more than 20 years. She is responsible for managing Mountain View College's climate and sustainability action plans and reports, curriculum resources, student recognition program, community workshops and special events. She recently concluded a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Wells Fargo which developed a Community Garden, Aquaponics Lab and Outdoor Classroom. Through these resources, MVC introduces students to sustainability education through food and soil. Lori is currently pursuing her MA in Sustainability and Development from the SMU Lyle School of Engineering and recently served as lead author on the two-volume supplemental textbook, “Feasted Landscapes: Sustainability in American Topics,” published by Kendall Hunt. Prior to coming to Mountain View, she owned an environmental education company where she developed grant-funded sustainability education workbooks and websites. She also conducted a Sustainability Issues throughout American History lecture series at North Lake College for two years. She is a SWANA-certified Recycling Systems Manager (Solid Waste Association of North America), Master Composter and Master Composter Trainer. She has completed the Sustainability for Leaders Certificate program from The Natural Step, and has also earned the Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) designation from the International Association of Business Communicators.
TRACS Mission: The mission of TRACS is to provide resources, expertise, education, peer-to-peer support, and training to advance sustainability in Texas higher education through an annual statewide summit and diverse member-driven network of students, faculty, and staff.
TRACS Vision: The Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) fosters a statewide network that embodies inter-campus collaboration and aspires to lead the world into a sustainable future committed to environmental preservation, economic development, and social equity.
Texas A&M University Planning Committee: Kathy McGrath, Associate Director – Residential Living and Learning (RLL) Hall Operations Ashley McLaughlin, Graduate Assistant, RLL Hall Operations Justin Crossland, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Mark Giossi. Facility Coordinator & Energy Program Manager John Harris, Assistant Director of Safety and Risk Management Katy King, Assistant Director of Guest Services & Marketing Shannah Spur, RLL Marketing assistance Casey Gore, RLL Marketing assistant Brandy Wooden, Graduate Assistant, RLL Marketing Jon Puttonen, Business Technical Services Coordinator Conference Staff: Kathy McGrath Justin Crossland Mark Giossi John Harris Ashley McLaurin Charles McLaurin, Student worker, RLL Hall Operations Emmanuel AKPO, Graduate Assistant, RLL Hall Operations Hope Rodriguez, Student worker, RLL Hall Operations Shelbi Wooley, Student worker, RLL Hall Operations Kendahl Cole, Student worker, RLL Hall Operations
Thanks to our Sponsors
Residential Living and Learning Morris Recreation Center Outdoor Adventures Environmental Management Committee Planetarium Business Administration RLL Marketing
Complimentary 30-Day Access to Sustainability: The Journal of Record for TRACS Summit Attendees
As an attendee of the TRACS Summit, you can take advantage of 30-day free access to SJoR via the access code SUS2017. Your online access includes all archived content. To use your access code, please follow these steps:
1. Visit www.liebertpub.com/accesstoken 2. Login or register as a new user 3. Once registered, click the “Access” tab 4. Enter Access Token SUS2017 and click “Submit”
TRACS 2017 Summit Agenda
Sunday, March 05, 2017
Time Event Location
Monday, March 06, 2017
Time Event Location
1:00- 6:00
2:00-5:00
6:00-9:00
Summit/ Campus Registration
Ropes Course/Bike Trail/ Disc Frisbee
Opening Reception
Welcome: Kathy
AVP/Dean Tomas Aguirre
TRACS Committee Announcements
Keynote: Kevin Wilhelm
Sam Rayburn Student Center 2nd floor
Outdoor Adventure
SRSC 2nd floor Conference
7:00-8:00
8:00-9:00
9:15-10:30
11:00-12:15
12:30-1:45
2:00-3:15
3:15
3:30-4:45
7:00-10:00
Yoga with Karin
Registration, Exhibitors and Poster Presentations
Session 1
Lunch
Session 2
Snacks
Session 3
Session 4 Dinner Casino Night- Cash Bar “Plastic Paradise” 7-8 (limited Seats)
Pride
SRSC Conference
SRSC Conference
SRSC Conference
Planetarium –Science Bldg.
Tuesday, March 07, 2017
For those that have a long trip ahead we have prepared “Grab and Go” deli sandwiches.
Notes:
Campsite: Showers are not onsite but MRC will be available for TRACS members.
Time Event Location
7:00-7:45
8:00-9:15
9:30-10:45
10:45-1:00
Yoga with Karin
Session 5
Session 6
Closing Reception
Pride
SRSC Conference
SESSIONS AT A GLANCE Monday: Conference Room 8:00 - 9:30 Registration vendor fair poster exhibits
Students Impacting their Community: Learning from the Student Green Club at Cedar Valley College
RainWorks Campus Challenge; University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Students
Engaging Students & Faculty/Staff. TAMUC Hall Operations staff
Campus-Wide Sustainability at TAMUC: knowledge, views, and attitudes of students, faculty and staff. Viktoria Tabeleva
Republic, Max-R, patcroft,, SmithGroupJJR, Johnson Control Staples
Suite Innovation A Innovation B Ambition B Pride Determination 9:30 - 10:45 How Campus Solar
Cuts Carbon and Boosts the Bottom Line
Bringing nature back to campus
ReCycle Bikes rental program- Where the rubber meets the road
Not Business as Usual: Fostering Civic Engagement on Climate Change
Recycling Update
11:00 - 12:15 LUNCH - 1ST FLOOR SODEXO
12:30 - 1:45 It's All About the People! Let's Talk About Social Sustainability
The Deceptive Metric
"Staffulty”: When Sustainability Staff Take on Faculty Roles
Finance and Curriculum
2:00-3:15 Transgender 101- What you need and want to know
'The Transition to an Eco-Sustainable Society'
Start Your Next Renewable Energy Project with Little or No Cost.
Building Environmental Stewardship through an On-campus Pocket Prairie
Day in the Life on Technology Integrated Campus
3:30 - 4:45 Collaborating for Clean Air
How to get a job in sustainability
Infusing Education for Sustainable Development into University Academics, Research, and Engagement through Faculty Training Programs
Sustainability Through Innovation -- The Shaw Green Edge
Making a Monarch Waystation
Tuesday 8:00 - 9:15 Process for UT Austin
Sustainability Master Plan
Successful Sustainability Efforts, Action from Constructive Communication
Energy Efficiency Assessment at Texas State University
“Developing a Partnership to Move Recycling Forward”
Honey Bee Biology
9:30 - 10:45 Student Leadership in Reducing Energy, Water, and Resource Consumption From Research Laboratories | The Green Labs Initiative at the University of Texas at Austin
Integrating Education for Sustainable Development through Tree Campus USA
Increasing student engagement through multi-media sustainability modules
Embracing Sustainability at Alamo Colleges
SECO, LEED and the Living Building Challenge - How far can you go?
Keynote: Kevin Wilhelm: Faculty, Speaker, Author and Business Consultant
Kevin Wilhelm is the CEO of Sustainable Business Consulting and is one of the world’s pre-eminent business consultants and teachers in the field of sustainability.
Kevin brings over 20 years of experience working with 115+ businesses ranging across 37 different industries. His firm specializes in helping companies realize business value through the integration of sustainability into everything they do. Some of his firm’s clients include Amazon, Nordstrom, REI, Alaska Airlines, The North Face, Expeditors, Redbox, Drugstore.com Real Networks to name a few.
He has taught 12 different courses in sustainability both in online and in-person formats at nine institutions – including the University of Washington system, Western Washington, Virginia Tech, and St. Louis University. He is on the cutting edge of sustainability teaching and has also guest lectured across the country over 100+ times, including 15 times at the University of Washington.
Kevin is the author of five acclaimed books in this field including:
Return on Sustainability: How Business Can Increase Profitability & Address Climate Change in an Uncertain Economy. (2009) Pearson/FT Press
Making Sustainability Stick: The Blueprint for Successful Implementation. (2014) Pearson/FT Press Introduction to Sustainable Business. (2015) Safari Books. Sustainability Jobs. With Wilhelm, K, Thompson, K, Thomas, A, Lee, R (2016). Lulu Intangible Value: Case Studies for How Arts & Sports Can Lead to Business Success (2017) Lulu
Kevin is a renowned speaker having spoken at many major conferences throughout his career. Some of these speaking engagements in the last year include:
CSR Leader Series, Oct 2016—How to Overcome Inertia and Regain Momentum on Sustainability Sustainable Brands, June 2016—When Corporate Responsibility Hits the Wall Sustaining and Greening Expedia (SAGE), April 2016—Earth Day Keynote TEDx WWU, April 2016—The CEO Manifesto for the 21st Century Net Impact Conference Keynote, Feb 2016
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Kevin was a contributing writer to the following:
The Reducetarian Solution. (2017), Go Green Rating Scale for Early Childhood Settings. (2010).
Green Jobs. 2008 and Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education. (2007).
MONDAY, MARCH 6 Program listings
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Yoga with Karin Pride
8:00 – 9:30 a.m. POSTER EXHIBITS Conference Room
Students Impacting their Community: Learning from the Student Green Club at Cedar Valley College Conference Room Cedar Valley College Student: Trinity Williams
-Examples of student-run sustainability initiatives at Cedar Valley -How to connect a community issue to projects for interested students -How to engage & empower students to lead sustainability initiatives
RainWorks Campus Challenge University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Students: Andreas Guevara-Nadeau, Raul Barbosa, Carolina Olivares, Carolina Izarguirre, Jaafar (Jay) Mouhamad
The Rio Grande Valley is an emerging cultural society of the delta landscape of South Texas. The area experiences sub-tropical climate with characterized high temperature in the summer with seasonal tropical storms and hurricanes. The average annual rainfall of this region is about 25 inches of rain and finding the least measurable precipitation is about 60 days per year. The infrastructure that has built this area, many generations ago, rarely considered the characteristics of water runoff, water quality, and non-point source pollution when developing the land. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Edinburg campus lies on about 290-acre flat surface land and more than 45% of the land is covered by an impermeable layer. The existing UTRGV campus storm drainage system is planned, as a minimum, for a storm frequency of 10 years and 3.2 inches per hour rainfall intensity, therefore, the campus experiences unfortunate flooding circumstances. Yet with the emergence of the new university, modern development, and present site constructions are drastically changing the university’s infrastructure. The students of UTRGV have developed a team that will concentrate on areas of the campus that experience conflicting water management and water quality. The goal of this study is to demonstrate an innovative and sustainable storm drain system to control and prevent flood events in the UTRGV campus. First, the student research team will evaluate the existing campus storm drain system by applying the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) developed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). To improve the campus drainage, the team will develop retrofit storm drain features using sustainable LID (Low Impact Development) and stormwater best management concepts e.g., bioswale and rain garden. In the task of the design development, the team will consider that the proposing design is optimized to the sub-tropical climate and control at least 2 inches of rainfall effectively which is 90% of storm events in the watershed. The retrofit system design will be assigned in the campus SWMM model to evaluate its hydrologic performance and contributions to the future storm drainage master plan of the UTRGV campus. With the support of the Civil Engineering department and Facilities Planning and Operations, the team will itemize locations of the campus to identify areas of focus. An area the team will emphasize is the E16 parking lot that is located on the east side of the main campus that is adjacent from 5th Street and Van Week Street. In the TRACS Summit, the drain system design progress and modeling efforts will be presented. The implications of the proposed plan can help bridge the students and the university in working together to create a more diverse community of the new emerging university; as well, create a strong stepping-stone for students in developing their skills and experiences towards their masters, doctorate, and future careers in the field.
This was a project that all the team members had little or no experience with and had to do personal research and give their own time to being involved and learn about the topic. With teamwork and mentor collaborations the project flourished by the ambition of the students.
Engaging Students & Faculty/Staff Residential Living and Learning- EcoLions Texas A&M University – Commerce Students: Shelbi Wooley, Hope Rodriguez, and Kendahl Cole
Engaging students, faculty, and staff in monthly programs that involves sustainability and arts and crafts that are created using recycled materials.
Campus-Wide Sustainability at TAMUC: knowledge, views, and attitudes of students, faculty and staff. Texas A&M University-Commerce Student: Viktoria Tabeleva The sustainability survey was conducted on Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMU-C) campus in September 2016 as part of the honors thesis “Campus-Wide Sustainability at TAMU-C”. The population sample of this survey included students, faculty, and staff of TAMU-C. The survey assessed the respondent’s knowledge of sustainability topics, their level of interest to contribute to sustainable development on campus and find out in which areas of sustainability students, faculty and staff thought TAMU-C was the strongest and the weakest. The survey results were analyzed, discussed and conclusions were made accordingly.
MONDAY, MARCH 6 Program listings
9:30-10:45 a.m. Innovation A How Campus Solar Cuts Carbon and Boosts the Bottom Line Chris O’Brien, Altenex Maria Boccalandro, Cedar Valley College
Learning Outcome 1: Learn how to assess on campus solar potential Learning Outcome 2: Understand how to compare onsite and offsite approaches Learning Outcome 3: Gain insight on how to structure power purchase agreements
Chris helps campuses adopt renewable energy strategies including onsite solar and large, offsite projects. He was American University’s Director of Sustainability, where he led their carbon neutrality effort and continues to teach energy and climate in the Kogod School of Business. He authored the award-winning book Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World.
Dr. Boccalandro is a sustainable urban planner with a master’s in urban transportation and a PhD in political science. She is the Sustainability Program Director for Cedar Valley College and is in charge of planning, developing, coordinating and administrating the awareness activities and communities outreach in sustainability including teaching responsibilities.
9:30-10:45a.m. Innovation B Bringing Nature Back to Campus Cassidy Johnson, Rice University/Houston Community College
I want to encourage other institutions to consider designing courses or other activities that give students an opportunity to participate in authentic, urban conservation efforts.
A native of the Texas Hill Country, Cassidy graduated in 2011 with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Cell Biology from Rice University. An avid outdoors person, she decided to get out of the lab and pursue her love of the environment. She was fortunate to land a position at the Houston Zoo in the Houston toad conservation program where she helped to shift the program’s conservation emphasis to the release of captive-produced eggs. Under her watch, more than 300,000 endangered Houston toads eggs were released back into the wild and the program continues to release over half a million eggs a year. Cassidy is now a Professor of Biology at Houston Community College and a Faculty Lecturer at Rice University. She is also the President of Coastal Prairie Partnership, a Houston-based nonprofit that serves a networking and educational role for other local, prairie conservation non-profits. In her spare time, Cassidy likes to paint, garden, and haul her two Houston toads, Pinky and the Brain, out to meet people in the community.
9:30-10:45a.m. Ambition B ReCycle Bikes rental program- Where the rubber meets the road Eliasz McCullen, Texas A & M University - Kingsville
Attendees to this presentation will learn:
1. Who key stakeholders are on campus 2. How to set up the program 3. Where to find bikes 4. How to attract students 5. What goals your organization wants to accomplish 6. And our journey to where we are
Eliasz McCullen is the Sustainability Operations Coordinator at Texas A & M University- Kingsville. They oversee the university recycling program; have started an organic student-run garden, a student-run recycled bike rental program, and a university compost program. Previously, Eli was involved in educating and mentoring at-risk youth in outdoor adventure settings with Youth Odyssey and Camp Wyman. When not working towards making Kingsville more sustainable and inclusive, Eli can be found creating new artwork, exploring our beautiful Texas parks by bike or on foot, or in an ER somewhere due to inherited clumsiness.
9:30-10:45a.m. Pride Not Business as Usual: Fostering Civic Engagement on Climate Change Brett Cease, Citizens Climate Lobby
Attendees will engage in a discussion of what it means to them to civically engage through building consensus, seeking common ground, and moving towards climate solutions in a non-partisan way. Attendees will learn about resources available to students, faculty, and staff for modeling civic engagement and ways they can engage their campuses back home.
Brett Cease is a UT-Dallas doctoral student in Public Policy and Regional Coordinator of Citizens’ Climate Lobby along the Gulf Coast. He’s worked the past decade in the field as a canoe instructor, camp director, and high school social studies teacher, and is now working with CCL to catalyze existing stakeholders to find common economic solutions.
9:30-10:45a.m. Determination Recycling Updates Sara Nichols, Executive Director, STAR
This presentation will take the audience through current trends in the recycling and materials management industry and will introduce some of the major challenges the industry is facing. Major themes of this presentation will be:
• Current state of recycling in Texas: where are we, who are the major players, and why is this important for our state? • Current trends in recycling and evolution of the material stream.
• Introduction to Sustainable Materials Management. • Major challenges facing the recycling industry. • Where do we go from here? Collaboration and partnerships continue to showcase innovation in a quickly evolving
industry About the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR): STAR is a 501c3 nonprofit membership organization seeking to increase recycling rates in Texas, for Texans. It achieves this mission through professional development for industry representatives, data collection and research, policy and advocacy at the state level, and by providing networking opportunities to encourage discussion and collaboration. Sara Nichols is the Executive Director of the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR), a nonprofit organization representing the diverse consortium of recycling professionals in Texas and beyond. At STAR, Sara works with numerous stakeholders within the recycling industry on program and policy issues in Texas. She implemented and now administers the Master Composter program and has also been published in national trade publications. Sara was an integral part of the Texas Recycling Data Initiative (TRDI) team, which worked to develop the framework for a survey released in February 2015 to take the first look at what recycling is occurring in Texas since the 1990s. Sara is writing and researching to contribute to TCEQ’s Study on the Economic Impacts of Recycling, which will be released in 2017.
Sara has planned a number of successful events and helped to develop positive partnerships with key organizations such as EPA Region 6, TCEQ, the Southeast Recycling Development Council, the National Recycling Coalition, Keep Texas Beautiful, and many more. She sits on the Steering Committee of the National Recycling Coalition’s Recycling Organization Council and is a member of the Hill Country Conservancy’s Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC) group.
With more than seven years of experience in communications, Sara has previously worked for the Houston Chronicle as a copy editor and freelance journalist, where she was able to cover a number of human interest and profile stories. She has a degree in print journalism and English literature from the University of Houston.
11:00-12:15 p.m. Lunch- 1st Floor Sodexo
(your TRACS ID gets you in)
12:30-1:45 p.m. Innovation A It's All About the People! Let's Talk About Social Sustainability Ben Kalscheur and Kelly Wellman, Texas A&M University
1. Value social sustainability as a necessity for advancing campus sustainability. 2. Identify strategies for including social sustainability on your campus.
Ben Kalscheur has served in the Texas A&M Office of Sustainability since 2010. He started as a Graduate Assistant and became the Sustainability Assistant Manager in 2013 upon completion of his Masters in Water Management & Hydrological Science. Hailing from Wisconsin, Ben earned a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In the Office of Sustainability his core job function is running an Internship Program devoted to creating a culture of sustainability through action and outreach. Ben is a strong advocate for the importance of incorporating social justice into sustainability and strives to build diverse, dynamic teams that are built on the foundations of inclusion, respect, and passion. Ben believes the only way we can create a sustainable world is by working together to make sure each and every one of us feels valued and included.
Ben is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and serves on the Executive Committee for the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS).
Kelly Wellman’s interest in the environment began during college when she interned in the sanitation operations of a local municipality. That job nurtured her fascination with the numerous human and environmental relationships that our society experiences on a daily basis. Kelly graduated from Texas A&M University in 1995 with a BS in Geography and emphasis on Environmental Studies. In 2006 she earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Prior to joining the staff at Texas A&M University, Kelly served as the Environmental Director for a municipality of 68,000 where she spent 12 years in the fields of Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste & Recycling, and Environmental Compliance. In March 2008, Kelly accepted the position as Texas A&M University’s first Sustainability Officer. In that role, Kelly has been charged with identifying key sustainability initiatives, working with students, faculty, and staff to develop a comprehensive program, advising the Aggie Green Fund, and implementing sustainability goals for the University.
Kelly is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and serves on the Executive Committee for the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS).
12:30-1:45 p.m. Innovation B The Deceptive Metric Alfonso Hernandez and Kapil Upadhyaya, KIRKSEY ARCHITECTURE
- This presentation will outline limitations that abound metrics like Energy Use Intensity and Noise Levels. - Audience will understand how building codes can be leveraged to inform Sustainability Master Plans. - This presentation will show the long term cost impacts of infrastructure planning through lifecycle cost analysis. - Audience will learn how simulations & measurement can both inform campus sustainability efforts.
Through unique stories, this presentation will demonstrate hidden limitations and potent opportunities that elude our common perception of sustainability metrics. Campus Sustainability Officers are familiar using metrics like ‘Energy Use Intensity’, ‘% total expenditures’ and ‘Metric tons of CO2equivalents’ to benchmark sustainability performance. What if you were to know that these metrics fail to accurately capture sustainability performance ? Metrics are more nuanced than what we are used to; sometimes these come with caveats that we forget; and sometimes metrics start measuring the opposite of what these are meant to. This presentation will use two studies to demonstrate how easily metrics can deceive
the very purpose that these were created for. One study uses measurements from a Residence Hall and the other uses simulations on three campuses.
Kapil has 12 years of experience in the building industry, and is one of a handful of ASHRAE accredited Building Energy Modeling Professionals in Texas. He is a Senior Associate at Kirksey Architecture where he facilitates an integrated design process with clients, architects, MEP consultants and contractors using LEED as a tool. He is a champion of building-physics having performed energy modeling, lighting & daylighting simulations, hygrothermal simulations and airflow simulations for over a 110 projects, 70 of which are LEED buildings. He heads benchmarking efforts in the firm with 5 Measurement & Verification projects for Johnson Space Center and over 10 Post Occupancy Evaluations for schools, offices & community buildings.
Kapil is the chair of Energy Modeling Committee at ASHRAE Houston Chapter and is on the Board of Directors of USGBC, Gulf Coast Regional Council. He founded the Houston Chapter of International Building Performance Simulation Association, and continues to support collaborative efforts between IBPSA & like-minded organizations. His interest in building chemistry extends to in his involvement with Content Inventory sub-group of Health Product Declaration Collaborative. Kapil believes that every building is an opportunity for innovation, and innovation comes through inter-disciplinary knowledge. His inter-disciplinary interests keep him involved with USGBC national committee for LEED Pilot Credits; the committee lays groundwork for piloting sustainability-based innovation in buildings.
Kapil holds a Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He has a Master of Science from Texas A&M University, where he earned the Tim Carnes Memorial Scholarship from IESNA for his graduate research.
Alfonso is a graduate of the Sustainable Environmental Design program at the Architectural Association in London as well as of the Master of Architecture program at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston. He has a strong interest and experience in the fields of Sustainable Parametrics, Performance-based Design and Solar Form Finding. He is currently part of the EcoServices team at Kirksey Architecture in Houston, where he’s involved in Energy, Daylight & Solar modeling and analysis. He also has collaborated with firms in the US and in Latin America and in 2010; he formed the MEDiAM Design Collaborative, with projects and proposals in Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia. As adjunct faculty at the University of Houston's College of Architecture, he has taught Environmental Systems/Energy, Solar & Daylight Modeling. He has also lectured and taught in the US (IBPSA, AIA Houston, AIA-BEC, IESNA, CATEE), Spain (ETSAM) & Venezuela (ULA) and has written for publications such as the PLEA conference and Cite Magazine. He co-teaches a LEED GA exam prep class and since 2012, he has been involved with the Architectural Association Visiting School Houston as a Tutor/Coordinator. He is the President of the IBPSA-Houston chapter for the term 2015-2016. Alfonso is a licensed architect and a LEED BD+C Accredited Professional.
12:30-1:45 p.m. Ambition B "Staffulty”: When Sustainability Staff Take on Faculty Roles Richard R. Johnson, Rice University
1. Attendees will develop a rich understanding of the “staffulty” position. 2. Attendees will learn the variety of ways that sustainability staff can engage with what is traditionally the faculty
realm, including the classroom and more broadly the curriculum. 3. Attendees will understand how deep engagement in the faculty realm by the sustainability staff can enhance the
effectiveness of a sustainability office. 4. Attendees will also gain insights into potential challenges associated with sustainability staff playing a “staffulty”
role. Richard Johnson earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Rice University and a Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia. He currently serves as the Director of the Administrative Center for Sustainability and Energy Management for Rice University, where he leads Rice's sustainability program and oversees a team of energy
managers and analysts. Richard holds appointments as a Professor in the Practice of Environmental Studies in Sociology and as an Adjunct Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has taught approximately twenty classes at Rice. He is also the former President of the Board of the Houston Farmers' Market, now the Rice University Farmers Market. Richard is a husband, father, foodie, traveler, and has served as a volunteer public radio deejay for over 25 years.
12:30-1:45 p.m. Pride Finance and Curriculum Texas A&M University – Commerce Dr. Ouida McAfee
1. Relating the assignment to the University Mission 2. Answering student demand 3. Addressing programmatic structure
Ouida McAfee, PhD, serves in the position of Ad-Interim Instructor with the Texas Affordable Baccalaureate in Organizational Leadership here at Texas A&M-Commerce. Dr. McAfee has served in the capacities of Dean, Director, Faculty, and Corporate Trainer. She has taught both face-to-face and online courses. As well, she has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses. Dr. McAfee has a drive to transform programs and to help students meet their goals. One of her great pleasures is seeing her teenage son smile as he tweaks his latest creation.
2:00-3:15 p.m. Innovation A Transgender 101- What you need and want to know Eliasz McCullen, Texas A & M University- Kingsville
Participants will gain basic understanding of LGBTQIA terminology, with emphasis on trans and other gender identities they may encounter on campus, and will gain understanding of an intersectional approach to equality and how it relates to the social equity aspect of sustainability. Since participants will be able to ask questions, both anonymous and directly, the outcome should be an overall better understanding of transgender people and identities, and how to make inclusive spaces.
Eliasz McCullen is the Sustainability Operations Coordinator at Texas A & M University- Kingsville. They oversee the university recycling program; have started an organic student-run garden, a student-run recycled bike rental program, and a university compost program. Previously, Eli was involved in educating and mentoring at-risk youth in outdoor adventure settings with Youth Odyssey and Camp Wyman. When not working towards making Kingsville more sustainable and inclusive, Eli can be found creating new artwork, exploring our beautiful Texas parks, or in an ER somewhere due to inherited clumsiness. Eli is a trans activist and intersectional feminist. This is their second time presenting at TRACS.
2:00-3:15 p.m. Innovation B The Transition to an Eco-Sustainable Society Tony Pereira, UCLA I. Science & Metrics of Eco-Sustainability II. Global Challenges III. Eco-Solutions: Integral Methods to Achieve Ecological Sustainability IV. Other Issues: eco-politics, eco-governance, eco-socialism, eco-nomics, eco-transportation, eco-education, and eco-sustainable cities, among others
Part I covers critical aspects of eco-sustainability, multidisciplinarity, the chronological science, important seminal studies and research, the unavoidable relevance of the laws of thermodynamics, conservation of mass and energy, and the available state of the art metrics used to determine eco-sustainability levels. Part II puts in perspective the consequences of carbon emissions and rampant consumerism and their effects on global warming, climate change, species extinction and loss of biodiversity, resource depletion, pollution, ocean dead zones, the agricultural and industrial ravage inflicted on the planet, and the challenges that the global human society faces. Part III offers an example of an integral engineering approach eco-solution to clean water, soil, air, food, energy and water, in a biodynamic cycle for an eco-sustainable home that regenerates soil, water, air and biodiversity instead of depleting it. The thought process and principles utilized can be used in other situations to obtain similar results. Part IV dwells in other areas of sustainability, on how to achieve sustainable transportation, sustainable agriculture, sustainable cities, its economics, politics and social aspects of sustainability in higher education in sustainability, and the essential eco-governance needed to support its implementation. The concept of an eco-sustainable social contract as a means to achieve eco-sustainability is introduced. Tony Pereira is a UCLA ME PhD, professor of engineering, science and eco-sustainability, scientist and researcher as well as founder, president and CEO of the Institute for Sustainable Engineering which is dedicated to the creation of self-sufficient eco-sustainable communities and a global eco-sustainable society. Tony was trained personally by former Vice-President Al Gore as a Climate Reality Leader, received a prestigious engineering award from the Unesco, and is a Fulbright Scholar. His scientific papers have been quoted thousands of times in scientific peer reviewed journals worldwide. Tony is a regular contributor to Truthout and other independent media venues on issues related to eco-sustainability 2:00-3:15 p.m. Ambition B Start Your Next Renewable Energy Project with Little or No Cost Andy Kim, Caleb Crow and Alyssa Halle-Schramm; Austin Community College District
1. Understand stakeholders’ roles with renewable energy projects – it takes a village to raise a renewable energy project.
2. Review available funding sources for renewable energy projects – Look around, you had it all along. 3. Understand the financial implication of the project scale – Think Big, you will pay less. 4. Explore the financial accounting aspects of renewable energy projects – Who pays the bill? 5. Review a case study of cash-positive renewable energy project – Don’t spend money, make money. 6. Plan ahead to design a solar ready campus – It is free to be future ready.
Andy Kim has been the Director of Energy & Sustainability at ACC since April 2009, with responsibility for a wide range of District’s sustainability efforts, including waste reduction and recycling, sustainable transportation, renewable energy generation and managing District’s carbon footprint, as well as working on the green building projects. Andy has a master’s degree in Architectural Planning & Environment; he is a registered architect, certified energy manager and LEED accredited professional. Before Andy joined ACC, he had a varied architectural career covering a range of sectors; hospitality, offices, housing, education and retail. He designed one of the first LEED Platinum buildings, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas in Mueller development. Andy serves the boards of Keep Austin Beautiful and US Green Building Council Central Texas Central Region.
Caleb Crow (Energy Conservation Manager) Cost effective energy utilization has been the focus of his career. He is a sustainability engineer with a concentration on energy efficiency. He is also passionate about water conservation, educational programs for undergraduates, action plans for distributed campuses, and many other sustainability projects.
Alyssa Halle-Schramm (Sustainability Coordinator) Alyssa serves as ACC’s Sustainability Coordinator. She joined the team in January 2017 and is responsible for initiatives ranging from outreach and engagement to recycling and waste management. Prior to ACC, Alyssa worked at The University of Texas at Austin in their sustainability office where she was primarily responsible for advising the office’s affiliated student organization, the Campus Environmental Center. She also played a key role in the university’s sustainability planning efforts. Alyssa previously worked with Virginia Tech’s energy and sustainability office focusing on student initiatives, sustainability planning, and measuring the campus' sustainability progress. She also has professional experience in urban planning. Alyssa holds a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and master’s degrees in Public Administration and Urban & Regional Planning. Alyssa serves on the executive committee of the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability and the City of Bastrop’s Board of Zoning and Adjustment.
2:00-3:15 p.m. Pride Building Environmental Stewardship through an On-campus Pocket Prairie University of Houston Nikhil Schneider Melissa Halstead Joanne Ma
1. Understand the process of how to increase environmental stewardship at your institution through native plants and green spaces.
2. Prepare for possible challenges from fundraising to institutional policies when undertaking native restoration. 3. Recognize ongoing stakeholder and collaboration efforts for environmental stewardship within institutions.
Born and raised just north of Austin, Nikhil Schneider moved to Houston at the age of ten, and has lived there ever since. Nikhil graduated from the University of Houston in December, with a degree in environmental science and a minor in energy and sustainability. He has been with the UH Office of Sustainability since July 2015. As the Office and Team Lead, he has spearheaded multiple projects related to improving campus sustainability and has served on the Tree Campus Advisory Committee, the Sustainability Committee, and the Bike Working Group. Up until his graduation, he worked at the campus recreation and wellness center as a climbing wall supervisor and trip leader for the Outdoor Adventure program. In his free time he enjoys reading, rock climbing (especially outdoors), playing video games and riding his bike. He hopes to stay active as an advocate for sustainability as he pursues future career options.
Melissa Halstead joined the Office of Sustainability as the Sustainability Coordinator in June 2016. Melissa holds a B.S. in Nutrition Science from The University of Texas at Austin and a graduate internship in Dietetics from the University of Maryland at College Park. She practiced as a Registered Dietitian for 5 years and decided to shift her career towards her passion in sustainability. Melissa has completed a Green Building and Community Sustainability Graduate certificate from Harvard University Extension School. Currently she is a degree candidate for a Master of Liberal Arts in Sustainability at Harvard University Extension School. Melissa serves on the executive committee of the Hunger and Environmental Nutrition dietetic practice group within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Melissa enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling, exploring new cultures and spending time with her family.
Joanne Ma is a sophomore currently pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design with a minor in energy and sustainability. Prior to her architectural studies, Ma served two years on local nonprofit Keep Sugar Land Beautiful’s Youth Advisory Board and interned with international nonprofit The Pangea Network. Ma joined the University of Houston Office of Sustainability in July 2015 as an outreach assistant and has gained experience with community outreach, zero-waste event planning, social media and graphic design. Her professional interests include urban development, waste management systems and landfill architecture. During her spare time, she enjoys baking, painting and reviewing indie films.
2:00-3:15 p.m. Determination Day in the Life on Technology Integrated Campus Russell Garcia, Johnson Controls
Campus Optimization
3:15- 3:30 p.m. Snacks- SRSC Conference
3:30-4:45 p.m. Innovation A Collaborating for Clean Air Whitney Vandiver Stevenson, North Central Texas Council of Governments
To better understand the air quality issue in our region along with a motivation to work and to help improve our region's air quality. A bonus would be having additional universities/colleges become official Air North Texas partners after learning about the campaign and the resources it offers.
Whitney works as a Communications Coordinator on the North Central Texas Council of Governments transportation and air quality marketing team. In this capacity, she leads Air North Texas, NCTCOG's regional air quality awareness campaign, and aids in the marketing and communications efforts of dozens of other air quality and transportation programs.
3:30-4:45 p.m. Innovation B How to get a job in sustainability Kevin Wilhelm, Partner of UT-RGV Participants will walk away with several key learnings: How to format a resume to highlight sustainability, how to network more effectively, and how to develop your job search plan and then bring your vision to reality.
Kevin Wilhelm is the CEO of Sustainable Business Consulting and is one of the world’s pre-eminent business consultants and teachers in the field of sustainability. He has worked with over 115+ companies across 37 industries, and is the author on several subjects in the field, including: Sustainability Jobs - How to Land Your Dream Green Job and Intangible Value - Case Studies for how Sports and Arts Prepare For Business Success
3:30-4:45 p.m.
Ambition B Infusing Education for Sustainable Development into University Academics, Research, and Engagement through Faculty Training Programs University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Amy Hay, Ph.D. Student: Eva Larraga Marianella Q. Franklin, Assoc. AIA, LEEP AP, Chief Sustainability Officer
1. Participants will be able to identify the impact of sustainability education and apply lessons learned to their programs
2. Participants will be able to communicate the intended outcomes for their program 3. Students will be able to identify opportunities they could implement on their campus
Dr. Amy Hay, Associate Professor of History. Hay began at UTRGV’s legacy institution, UTPA, in 2006. Along with the US History survey, she teaches 20th-century America, Women's Activism since 1848, Public Health in the Americas, and American Environmental History. Her research interests focus on public health and environmental activism. Her current research examines global protests against Agent Orange herbicides. Aside from teaching and writing history, she enjoys voting, reading science fiction and fantasy, traveling, and observing people.
Eva Larraga--Eva Larraga is undergraduate student majoring in graphic design with a minor in marketing at UTRGV. She has been working as an intern to support the Office for Sustainability with her graphic arts skills, designing many of the department’s publications. In addition, Larraga has actively participated in events such as Project Sin Fronteras, Arbor Day, and Campus Sustainability Day. Ms. Larraga is bilingual in both English and Spanish.
Marianella Franklin, Chief Sustainability Officer, founded the Office for Sustainability in 2009. Since that time, UTRGV received its first Arbor Day Tree Campus USA designation, its Silver STAR from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), its first ranking from the Sierra Club Cool Schools and first rating from The Princeton Review, and was highlighted in AASHE’s 2016 Sustainable Campus Index in the area of academics. Under Franklin’s leadership, UTRGV is engaging and uniting every corner of the university to create an environment in which all members of the campus community are generating knowledge, acquiring skills, developing values, and initiating sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives. By embedding sustainable development in its strategic plan, UTRGV shows its commitment to the future. Franklin received her Bachelor in Architecture from Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico.
3:30-4:45 p.m. Pride Sustainability through Innovation -- The Shaw Green Edge David Wilkerson, Shaw Industries, Inc. (Patcraft)
A better understanding of sustainability and its critical link to innovation
As corporate director of sustainability and product stewardship at Shaw Industries, David Wilkerson is responsible for identifying, planning and leading key sustainability initiatives for the expansive portfolio of flooring products the company manufactures and supplies, including carpet, hardwood, laminate, resilient and stone and tile flooring. In this capacity, he works closely with the commercial and residential sales and marketing teams as well as Shaw’s corporate communications department and product innovation group to advance the manufacturing company’s sustainability efforts. David is a member of Shaw’s Growth and Sustainability Council and serves on the Residential and Commercial Strategic Business Teams.
3:30-4:45 p.m. Determination Making a Monarch Waystation Thea Junt, UT Dallas
How easy it is to support plant diversity and insect habitat.
Thea Junt, a San Antonio native, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemisty and Biophysics from Texas A&M University in 1998 and her MBA from UT Dallas in 2016. Her professional experience is in environmental management with eight years at Seattle’s National Marine Fisheries Service. Upon returning to Texas in 2010, she became the Associate Director for Energy Conservation and Sustainability with UT Dallas and began her adventures in green building, habitat restoration, energy management, and student engagement.
7:00 – 8:00 “Plastic Paradise” limited seats Planetarium – Science bldg.
7:00-10:00 p.m. Casino Night – food and cash bar SRSC Conference
Tuesday, MARCH 7 Program listings
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Yoga with Karin Pride
8:00-9:15 a.m. Innovation A Process for UT Austin Sustainability Master Plan Jim Walker, UT Austin Ability to describe key process points of a planning process for sustainability
Jim has been Director of Sustainability at UT Austin since 2009.
8:00-9:15 a.m. Innovation B Successful Sustainability Efforts, Action from Constructive Communication University of North Texas Gary Cocke, UNT Student Sustainability Coordinator Student: Laci Kettavong
1. Understand the field and the reach of technical communication in relation to how it affects campus sustainability efforts, specifically, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) report and in general, other sustainability campaigns on campus
2. Connect core communication competencies (writing, editing, design) as well as areas of specialization in technical communication (content strategy, usability/user experience, and digital literacy) to the stages of STARS reporting and outreach and operations efforts
3. Realize the necessity of interdisciplinary cooperation to boost campus sustainability, which includes the main sustainability entity/office, other departments on campus, and campus members, and how technical communication can foster this cooperation
Gary Cocke is an alumni of UNT and TCU where he received his Bachelors and Master’s degree in Biology, respectively, concentrating on ecology and conservation. Prior to leading UNT Student Sustainability, Gary worked for the City of Plano Sustainability Division focused on water conservation during the 2014 drought and helping the municipality reduce water usage by 46% during a time when conservation was critical for the region. Now, at UNT Gary shares his results-driven methodology of sustainability with students through the projects that UNT Student Sustainability takes on.
Every project has 2 goals: 1 – Have the maximum impact on campus sustainability 2 – Incorporate educational opportunities for students. During the 2015/2016 academic year, projects addressing green energy, campus biodiversity, waste minimization, pollinator protection, alternative transportation, water quality, energy conservation, and recycling have
improved UNT’s environmental sustainability while providing training for the next generation of physical plant administrators and sustainability professionals.
Laci Kettavong is a graduate assistant for UNT Student Sustainability and the Office of Spiritual Life at the University of North Texas. She is a Master’s candidate in the Technical Communication program at the University of North Texas, where she previously earned a Master’s in Philosophy, concentrating in environmental ethics, and her Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies. Laci recently worked as a content development fellow with the National Wildlife Federation to research and create a career outlook page on community and environmental justice for the NWF’s Ecoleader program. For UNT Student Sustainability, Laci is working on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) report.
8:00-9:15 a.m. Dedication Energy Efficiency Assessment at Texas State University Milad Mohammadalizadehkorde, Texas State University
1. How to calculate CO2 emissions from purchased electricity? 2. What are the most important financial factors in energy efficiency assessment? 3. How different energy efficiency plans can affect financial outcomes in a fiscal year? 4. What is the average of payback period for replacing lighting system with LED bulb?. 5. What is the effect of replacing pumps at building level? 6. How much is the cost of solar panel installation and how much energy it can produce compared to the traditional
way of electricity usage, etc? Milad is a graduate student in the Sustainability program at Texas State University. He earned his B.A. and his first M.S. degree in Communication Science and Business Communication from the University of Perugia in Italy where he lived for 9 years. Milad helped bring Texas State University one step closer to meeting its energy goals by identifying energy efficiency opportunities. Milad was awarded for the “Best Paper” in the Eighth International Research Conference for Graduate Students at Texas State University, November 2016, presenting his research for energy efficiency assessment. His research interests are in climate change, environmental geography and clean energy. 8:00-9:15 a.m. Pride “Developing a Partnership to Move Recycling Forward” Nathan Jones, Texas A&M University
To look for those outside and maybe unusual opportunities that may give your program new energy to progress.
Nathan Jones is the Manager for Utilities Services and has been with Texas A&M University and Utilities and Energy Services for 20 years. He oversees the water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, underground distribution piping, utility plants water treatment and chemistry, solid waste and recycling services and environmental compliance. Mr. Jones has BS degree in Meteorology and MS degree in Industrial Hygiene from Texas A&M. He serves on the Sustainability and Environmental Management Committee, the Storm Water Management Committee, the Aggie Green Fund Advisory Committee, the Solid Waste Minimization Committee and the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the university he served as safety and environmental compliance manager for an oil & gas exploration and production corporation.
8:00-9:15 a.m. Determination Honey Bee Biology UT Dallas
Thea Junt Dr. Scott Rippel
Basic information on bees, pollinators, Bee Campus USA; comfort around beehives.
Thea Junt, a San Antonio native, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemisty and Biophysics from Texas A&M University in 1998 and her MBA from UT Dallas in 2016. Her professional experience is in environmental management with eight years at Seattle’s National Marine Fisheries Service. Upon returning to Texas in 2010, she became the Associate Director for Energy Conservation and Sustainability with UT Dallas and began her adventures in green building, habitat restoration, energy management, and student engagement.
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Innovation A Student Leadership in Reducing Energy, Water, and Resource Consumption From Research Laboratories | The Green Labs Initiative at the University of Texas at Austin Emery Wolf, University of Texas at Austin Best practices for implementing a Green Labs program into a university.
Emery is a second year Energy & Earth Resources Masters student at the University of Texas at Austin holding a Bachelor’s degree in Renewable Natural Resource Management from Texas A&M University and has been the student manager for Green Labs in the office of sustainability since July of 2016.
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Innovation B Integrating Education for Sustainable Development through Tree Campus USA University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Dr. Alexis Racelis Student: Abraham Navarro Devon Hernandez
Marianella Q. Franklin, Assoc. AIA, LEEP AP, Chief Sustainability Officer
1. Participants will be able to identify the advantages of including credit-based learning in the project versus hiring consultants
2. Participants will be able to extrapolate and apply a plan for implementation of the Tree Campus USA process for their campus
3. Students will be able to identify opportunities they could implement on their campus 4. Students are actively thinking about and creating a sustainable future for their campus, for their community, and
for their futures.
Alexis Racelis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of School of Earth, Environment, and Marine Science, continues a research and student training program in urban and agro ecology with the ultimate goals of integrating findings into local food and urban policies while arming local students with techniques and skills in ecological research to best make positive impacts on their own communities. Dr. Racelis is an instrumental component in institutionalizing sustainability at UTRGV. Abraham Navarro, Student Research Intern, Office for Sustainability. Navarro has been working for the Office for Sustainability since August 2015. He is currently obtaining a double B.B.A. in Economics and Finance. He plans a Masters in Sustainability Management and eventually plans to own his own business.
Devon Hernandez--Ms. Hernandez began working with the university Office for Sustainability in 2016. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with as a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Mass Communication and Political Science. Ms. Hernandez has worked with a variety of non-profits including the Holocaust Museum of Houston and the Outdoor Education Center in Huntsville Texas. Ms. Hernandez is bilingual in both English and Spanish.
Franklin, Chief Sustainability Officer, founded the Office for Sustainability in 2009. Since that time, UTRGV received its first Arbor Day Tree Campus USA designation, its Silver STAR from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), its first ranking from the Sierra Club Cool Schools and first rating from The Princeton Review, and was highlighted in AASHE’s 2016 Sustainable Campus Index in the area of academics. Under Franklin’s leadership, UTRGV is engaging and uniting every corner of the university to create an environment in which all members of the campus community are generating knowledge, acquiring skills, developing values, and initiating sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives. By embedding sustainable development in its strategic plan, UTRGV shows its commitment to the future. Franklin received her Bachelor in Architecture from Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico.
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Dedication Increasing student engagement through multi-media sustainability modules Kevin Wilhelm, Partner of UT-RGV
How to use multi-media to better "flip the classroom", how to help faculty engage with the content that makes them want to add sustainability to their courses, and how the modules can add practical, skills based learning to existing classes with little or no effort from faculty.
Kevin Wilhelm is the CEO of SBC and is one of the world’s pre-eminent business consultants and teachers in the field of sustainability. He has taught 12 different courses in sustainability both in online and in-person formats at nine institutions - including Virginia Tech, the University of Washington system, Western Washington and St. Louis University. He is on the cutting edge of online teaching and has lectured across the country hundreds of times. Kevin is the author of three acclaimed books in this field including: -Return on Sustainability: How Business Can Increase Profitability & Address Climate Change in an Uncertain Economy. (2009) Pearson/FT Press -Making Sustainability Stick: The Blueprint for Successful Implementation. (2014) Pearson/FT Press -Sustainability Jobs. With Wilhelm, K, Thompson, K, Thomas, A, Lee, R (2016). Lulu
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Pride Embracing Sustainability at Alamo Colleges Alamo College Rose Reyes Constanza Martinez
Alamo Colleges is a network of five community colleges serving San Antonio, TX and surrounding areas. As a signatory in one of Second Nature's three Climate Leadership Commitments, Alamo Colleges developed a Climate Action Plan to pursue its sustainability mission of “minimizing the environmental impact of its daily operations while empowering its students and employees to reduce their individual environmental impacts.” As a result, an Environmental Sustainability Policy and Procedure was adopted in 2012 to address six focus areas:
1) Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Conservation 2) Water Conservation 3) Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality 4) New Constructions, Additions and Renovations 5) Sustainability Literacy, 6) Procurement
The Sustainability Council, a committee that meets once a month during the Fall and Spring semesters, introduced the Greening the Curriculum initiative to document how many faculty at each college are incorporating sustainability into their classes. The colleges offer courses and degrees in sustainability disciplines, as well as community outreach programs through San Antonio College’s William R. Sinkin Eco Centro. Eco Centro is a community outreach center that promotes environmental sustainability by combining a LEED-certified facility with community workshops on environmentally-friendly practices, while hosting several academic projects to train a future green workforce. Alamo Colleges is also working on improving recycling on campus by increasing the number of recycling bins, educating about ways to reduce waste, and promoting green purchasing of materials and supplies.
With a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, Alamo Colleges is minimizing the environmental impact of its operations by implementing Continuous Commission ®, participating in demand response programs, 4-day work week initiatives during the summer, and introducing thermal energy storage systems. To make operations and maintenance more sustainable, the facilities department at Alamo Colleges also developed specific green policies such as the Sustainable & Green Cleaning Housekeeping Policy, the Grounds and Irrigation Sustainability Policy, and the Integrated Pest Management Policy. Three of the five colleges have successfully introduced renewable energy by installing a total of 600-kW capacity of solar panels. These PV installations serve a dual purpose: they provide energy while being an educational tool, and in some cases provide shading for parking.
Rose Reyes has been a member of the Facilities Operations and Construction Management department for eight years. Ms. Reyes serves on the Alamo Colleges Sustainability Council and recently became a Climate Reality Leader after completion of training in August 2016. For the past four years Ms. Reyes has worked closely with fellows paired with Alamo Colleges by the EDF Climate Corps as well as student interns from the Alamo Colleges Information Technology & Security Academy.
Ms. Reyes provides support to facilities operations and project management staff in securing training classes for safety, operation of equipment and continuing education for licensed personnel.
Associates of Applied Science (Paralegal), San Antonio College (1990) Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (working to complete), Texas State University
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Determination SECO, LEED and the Living Building Challenge - How far can you go? SmithGroupJJR Jay Rambo, AIA, LEED AP Jim Taylor, AIA, MBA, LEED AP
An understanding of how sustainability can be integrated into any design project despite political or economic circumstances
Jay Rambo serves as the Office Director for the Dallas office of SmithGroupJJR. He has served a number of roles including Project Architect, Project Manager and Principal-in- Charge for a wide range of higher education planning, programming and design projects with sustainability as a main driver. He has developed his project expertise and leadership abilities through a dedication and involvement in all phases of his projects. He has shared his experience through local teaching opportunities as well as through speaking engagements at state and national levels.
As an architect with more than 15 years of progressive experience in civic and higher education building programs, Jim is an effective team leader and design collaborator who incorporates sustainability and collaborative team management into projects of various sizes and complexity. He excels at navigating projects with numerous stakeholder groups. This hands-on project experience gives Jim a unique understanding of the many challenges faced by these very complex facilities.
10:45-1:00 p.m. Closing Reception- SRSC Conference